Over 160 gelatin sticks found near Almora school in Uttarakhand, investigation underway

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A fresh security alarm has gone off in Uttarakhand after Almora Police discovered a large stockpile of gelatin sticks close to a school, leading to an expansive probe by multiple agencies, according to reports.

The find comes at a time when the nation is already tense in the aftermath of the Delhi Red Fort explosion.

The incident unfolded in Dabara village in the Sult region, where the principal of the Government Higher Secondary School, Subhash Singh, noticed several unusual packets hidden in bushes near the campus, reported News18.

He quickly alerted authorities, setting off a rapid response. Two police teams arrived, secured the premises, and summoned bomb experts along with dog squads from Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital.

During the search, canine teams spread out around the school grounds and nearby fields, eventually uncovering packets of explosives scattered across the area—some located nearly 20 feet away from the first discovery point. In all, officers recovered 161 gelatin sticks weighing more than 20 kilograms, according to the report.

Almora Senior Superintendent of Police Devendra Pincha confirmed the seizure, saying, “Around 161 gelatin sticks were found near the school. The BDS team conducted an inquiry and searched the entire area. An FIR has been registered under appropriate sections, and further action is ongoing.” He pointed out that while such sticks are often used in construction or blasting work, investigators are trying to determine how such a large quantity ended up abandoned near a school.

A case has now been filed against unidentified individuals under Section 4(a) of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, as well as Section 288 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). Officers have secured and sealed the packets, and four specialised police teams are now working to determine where the explosives originated, the route they traveled, and what they were meant for.

This discovery comes on the heels of nearly 3,000 kilograms of explosive material being seized in Haryana, linked to the ongoing Delhi blast investigation.

The series of hauls has intensified suspicions among security agencies, with sources indicating that certain networks may have been preparing coordinated attacks in major urban centers, accoriding to News18. With the Almora find adding to the growing list of alarming recoveries, authorities are treating it as a potential key lead as investigation is underway.